NEW YORK, NY.- The Guggenheim New York presents the Collection in Focus exhibition centering one of the most important works by the renowned artist, writer, and activist Faith Ringgold. The Reach of Faith Ringgold spotlights Woman on a Bridge #1 of 5: Tar Beach (1988), the first in a series of five monumental quilts that tells the story of a young girl who soars from her Harlem rooftop, celebrating her own freedom and self-possession. Looking to one key work, the exhibition explores Ringgold’s critical position in the canon of art history, building off the modernists who preceded her, and inspiring those who followed.

Marking the Guggenheim’s first presentation of Woman on a Bridge #1 of 5: Tar Beach (1988), The Reach of Faith Ringgold investigates her artistic forerunners and the lasting impact she has had on subsequent generations of artists. Tar Beach has been contextualized within the broader narrative of modern and contemporary art through works from the Guggenheim New York’s collection and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The exhibition includes pieces by modernists such as Marc Chagall, Jacob Lawrence, and Pablo Picasso, who preceded or were contemporaries of Ringgold, and contemporary American artists such as Sanford Biggers, Tschabalala Self, Mickalene Thomas, and Carrie Mae Weems whose work reflects her legacy.

“Ringgold left an indelible imprint on the art world through her practice and activism,” states Naomi Beckwith, Deputy Director and Jennifer and David Stockman Chief Curator, “and she also activated millions of children’s imaginations through her contributions as an author. The Guggenheim New York is utterly thrilled to center one of Ringgold’s iconic artworks, which was the subject of one of her award-winning books, in an exhibition that is sure to delight our visitors of every age.”

Another highlight of this exhibition is a painting by Jacob Lawrence, Tragedy and Comedy (1952), the first work by the artist acquired by the Guggenheim and one of the earliest modernist works by a Black artist in its collection. This exhibition marks its debut at the Guggenheim.

Ringgold is known for her distinctive artistic technique that blends a variety of media and styles, most famously through her “story quilts.” She often combines painting, fabric, and quilting, resulting in a unique fusion of fine art and craft. Ringgold paints her scenes onto large, quilted canvases using bold colors, intricate patterns, and layered textures. The quilts themselves are not only visually striking but are deeply symbolic, reflecting the African American tradition of storytelling through fabric. The process involves hand stitching and sewing, a craft historically associated with women and often tied to cultural heritage, which Ringgold reinvents to explore themes about race, identity, gender, and history.

In addition to quilting, Ringgold employs painting and collage, incorporating text and imagery to narrate ends. Her style draws from both folk art and modernist traditions, bringing together abstraction with figurative elements. Ringgold’s work is influenced by her desire to merge art with activism, offering social commentary on issues like civil rights, feminism, and the African American experience. This blend of techniques allows her to create powerful visual statements that engage viewers both emotionally and intellectually. In The Reach of Faith Ringgold, visitors will have the opportunity to see the museum’s permanent collection, speaking to Ringgold’s unique position in the history of American art.

This exhibition is the third installment in a new exhibition series, Collection in Focus. The series is part of a reinvigorated effort to make the Guggenheim’s world-renowned holdings more accessible to the public.

The Reach of Faith Ringgold is organized by Naomi Beckwith, Deputy Director and Jennifer and David Stockman Chief Curator.

(b. 1930, New York; d. 2024, Englewood, New Jersey) earned a bachelor’s degree from City College of the City University of New York in 1955 and a master’s degree from City College in 1959. Her artwork resides in over fifty prominent public collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Brooklyn Museum, New York; Philadelphia Museum of Art; Smithsonian Institute of Art, Washington, DC; Baltimore Museum of Art; High Museum of Art, Atlanta; Newark Museum; Art Institute of Chicago; and St. Louis Art Museum. Her achievements as an artist, teacher, author, and activist have been recognized with numerous honors, including the National Endowment for the Arts awards in sculpture and in painting; a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship; an NAACP Image Award; a Caldecott Honor; a Peace Corps Award bestowed by former President Barack Obama; and 16 honorary doctorates.